Cooking appliance

ABSTRACT

Provided is a cooking appliance including a heat accumulation section in an inner surface of a cavity. Therefore, heat generated by a heater may be accumulated in or emitted from the heat accumulation section, and thus food can be cooked through gradual heating of the cooking appliance.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 and 35 U.S.C. 365 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0040996 (filed on May 11, 2009), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a cooking appliance.

Cooking appliances are used to cook food. Cooking appliances use at least one of heat, microwaves, and steam to heat and cook food.

Such a cooking appliance includes a cooking compartment in which food is cooked. A main body of the cooking appliance is provided with a heating source including, for example, at least one of a heater for generating heat, a magnetron for generating microwaves, and a steamer for generating steam. The steamer generates and supplies steam to the cooking compartment.

The cooking appliance includes a door for opening and closing the cooking compartment. The door is provided with a door handle that is held by a user.

SUMMARY

Embodiments provide a cooking appliance that intensively heats food.

Embodiments also provide a cooking appliance that uses accumulated heat to heat food.

In one embodiment, a cooking appliance includes: a cavity provided with a cooking compartment; a heater section for emitting heat to the cavity; and a heat accumulation section for accumulating and emitting heat generated from the heater section.

In another embodiment, a cooking appliance includes: a cavity provided with a cooking compartment; a heater layer for emitting heat to the cavity; a heat accumulation layer for accumulating and emitting heat generated from the heater layer; and a heating plate in the cavity.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a cooking appliance according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a heating plate of the cooking appliance according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the heating plate of the cooking appliance is removed according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a heater section is disconnected from a power source according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the heater section is connected to the power source according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the heating plate partitions a cooking compartment according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the heating plate partitions used as a lower heater according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure in which a portion of the cooking compartment functions as a heater using accumulated heat, according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating flow of control signals within the cooking appliance according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a removal of a heating plate of a cooking appliance according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a heater section removed from a power source according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the heater section of FIG. 11 is connected to the power source.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a heater section disconnected from a power source according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the heater section of FIG. 13 is connected to the power source.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a cooking appliance according to a first embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, a cooking appliance 1 according to the current embodiment includes a main body 10 provided with a cooking compartment 120, and a door 20 for opening and closing the cooking compartment 120.

In detail, a top surface 110 of the main body 10 is provided with a first cooking part. The first cooking part includes one or more heating parts 111 disposed on the top surface 110 of the main body 10. The heating parts 111 may use at least one of electricity and fuel gas to heat food disposed over the heating parts 111. For example, the heating parts 111 may heat food by using a heater for generating heat with electricity applied, may use an electromagnetic field generated by applied electricity to generate induced current in a container in which food is accommodated, may directly heat food with flame generated by burning fuel gas, or may transfer heat generated by burning fuel gas to food through a heat transferring member.

A back guard 113 is disposed behind the first cooking part. The back guard 113 may minimize direct heat transfer from the first cooking part to furniture or a wall disposed behind the cooking appliance 1.

A second cooking part is disposed under the first cooking part. The second cooking part includes a cavity 121 forming a space that accommodates food therein. That is, the inside of the cavity 121 functions as the cooking compartment 120 to accommodate and cook food. A heating plate 13 is disposed in the cavity 121. Food may be placed on the top surface of the heating plate 13. The heating plate 13 may partition the inner space of the cavity 121 according to a position in the cavity 121.

Both side surfaces of the cavity 121 are provided with forming parts to limit a vertical movement of the heating plate 13, that is, to support and fix the heating plate 13. The forming parts correspond to each other at the same height on both the side surfaces of the cavity 121. A height of the forming part on the side surface of the cavity 121 is equal to or greater than a thickness of the heating plate 13. The forming parts are long in the back and forth direction of the cooking appliance 1 such that the heating plate 13 is removably coupled to the cavity 121. That is, while the heating plate 13 is removed from or coupled to the cavity 121, the heating plate 13 is slid in the back and forth direction by the forming parts.

The second cooking part is provided with heating parts for heating food accommodated in the cooking compartment 120. The heating parts may include at least one of a heater using electricity, and a burner for burning fuel gas. At least one 14 of the heating parts is disposed at the upper side of the cavity 121.

However, the heating parts may be disposed at various sides of the cavity 121 including the lower and rear sides of the cavity 121 as well as the upper side of the cavity 121. When food is directly heated by radiant heat from the heating part, the heating part may be disposed at least one of the upper and lower sides of the cavity 121. When food is indirectly heated by air heated by the heating part in the cooking compartment 120, the heating part may be disposed on the rear side of the cavity 121. In this case, a fan may be provided to move the air in the cooking compartment 120 through convection, thereby further improving cooking efficiency.

In the current embodiment, the heating plate 13 constitutes the heating part. The heating plate 13 includes a heater section 133 for emitting heat, and a heat accumulation section 132 for storing and emitting heat generated by the heater section 133. The heating plate 13 will be described later in more detail.

The top surface of the cavity 121 is rounded to be convex upward.

In detail, the top surface of the cavity 121 is rounded such that the center thereof is highest and both side ends thereof are lowest. The heating part 14 is spaced a constant distance from the top surface of the cavity 121. That is, the heating part 14 conforms with the top surface of the cavity 121. A reflective part is disposed at the upper side of the heating part 14 to reflect heat from the heating part 14 to the cooking compartment 120. The reflective part is also spaced a constant distance from the top surface of the cavity 121, that is, conforms with the top surface of the cavity 121. In this case, when being viewed from a front view, the top surface of the cavity 121 may have one of various shapes such as an arc, an oval, and a parabola.

When the top surface of the cavity 121 has an arc, that is, a shape spaced a constant distance from an imaginary line extending in the back-and-forth direction in the cavity 121, heat emitted from the heating part may be reflected from the reflective part, and be collected to the imaginary line.

A side of the main body 10 is provided with an input part 161 to which signals for controlling the first and second cooking parts are input, and an output part 165 from which information about operation states of the first and second cooking parts, and information needed for using the first and second cooking parts are output. The input part 161 may be disposed on the front surface of the cooking appliance 1, or near the front surface, so that a user can easily approach the input part 161. The output part 165 may be disposed on the front surface of the back guard 113 or the front surface of the cooking appliance 1, so that a user can easily recognize the output part 165.

Electric parts are installed on a side of the main body 10 to operate the first and second cooking parts. Since the electric parts are sensitive to heat, the electric parts may be disposed in a portion of the first and second cooking parts where the amount of transferred heat is small. For example, the electric parts may be provided to the back guard 113. This is because the back guard 113 has a lower temperature than the other portions of the cooking appliance 1.

The door 20 is rotatably disposed at the front side of the main body 10. The door 20 may rotate downward about the lower end thereof, rotate upward about the upper end thereof, or rotate to a side end or both side ends thereof about the side end or both the side ends. Thus, a rotation direction of the door 20 may vary. When the weight of the door 20 is considered, the door 20 may be designed to rotate downward about the lower end thereof.

The door 20 may be provided with a seeing through window 21 to check a state of food cooked in the cavity 121.

The front surface of the main body 10 and the rear surface of the door 20 may be provided with brick patterns to imitate a brick structure. The brick patterns may be formed by partially recessing or protruding the front surface of the main body 10 and the rear surface of the door 20. The brick patterns provide aesthetic effect and a delicate appearance such as a fire place or an old-fashioned oven.

The heating plate will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the heating plate of the cooking appliance according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the heating plate of the cooking appliance is removed according to the first embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the heating plate 13 includes the heater section 133 for generating heat, and the heat accumulation section 132 adjacent to the heater section 133. In detail, the heater section 133 includes a heater 134 for emitting heat and a heater receiving part receiving the heater 134. The heater receiving part has a flat plate shape with an inner space, and constitutes an outer surface of the heater section 133. The heater 134 is received in the inner space of the heater receiving part. An end 135 of the heater 134 passes through a side portion of the heater receiving part, and is exposed out of the heater receiving part. The end 135 of the heater 134 is an electrode part (also denoted by 135) connected to a power source to supply power to the heater 134.

The heat accumulation section 132 is adjacent to a surface of the heater section 133, and has a flat plate shape having the same area as that of the heater section 133. The thickness of the heater section 133 and the heat accumulation section 132 may be varied according to purpose of cooking. The heat accumulation section 132 absorbs heat emitted from the heater section 133 to store and emit the heat. The heat accumulation section 132 is formed of a material having high specific heat, such as a stone-based material, to increase the amount of stored heat.

The heater section 133 and the heat accumulation section 132 are provided with a coupling part to removably couple the heater section 133 and the heat accumulation section 132 to each other. The coupling part includes a plurality of coupling protrusions 136 provided to the heater section 133, and a plurality of coupling recesses 137 provided to the heat accumulation section 132. The coupling protrusions 136 gradually increase in width in a protruding direction from a surface of the heater section 133. The coupling recesses 137 are disposed in a surface of the heat accumulation section 132, and have a shape corresponding to the coupling protrusions 136. The coupling protrusions 136 and the coupling recesses 137 are elongated from one end of the heater section 133 and the heat accumulation section 132 to another end thereof.

Thus, the heater section 133 and the heat accumulation section 132 are coupled to and decoupled from each other through sliding. For example, to couple the heater section 133 and the heat accumulation section 132 to each other, first ends of the coupling protrusions 136 of the heater section 133 may be inserted in second ends of the coupling recesses 137 of the heat accumulation section 132, and then, the heater section 133 and the heat accumulation section 132 may be slid against each other until the first ends of the coupling protrusions 136 arrive at first ends of the coupling recesses 137. After the coupling, the heater section 133 and the heat accumulation section 132 are locked to each other, and thus, relative motion between the heater section 133 and the heat accumulation section 132 is limited except for the longitudinal direction of the coupling protrusions 136 and the coupling recesses 137. The heater section 133 and the heat accumulation section 132 may be removed from each other in a reverse order of the coupling of the heater section 133 and the heat accumulation section 132.

Thus, the heater section 133 and the heat accumulation section 132 may be independently installed on the cavity 121. In more detail, only the heater section 133 may be installed on the cavity 121 by removing the heat accumulation section 132 from the heater section 133. Alternatively, only the heat accumulation section 132 may be installed on the cavity 121 by removing the heater section 133 from the heat accumulation section 132.

Although the electrode part 135 straightly extends rearward from the heater section 133 in the current embodiment, the electrode part 135 may be bent in a Z shape from the heater section 133 such that the end of the electrode part 135 is disposed at the center of the heating plate 13 in a thick direction thereof. In this case, the heating plate 13 may be upside down on the cavity 121 such that the heater section 133 and the heat accumulation section 132 change the positions thereof with each other. That is, the heating plate 13 may have two directivities.

A process in which the heater section is connected to and disconnected from the power source will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the heater section is disconnected from the power source according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the heater section is connected to the power source according to the first embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the cooking appliance 1 includes a power connecting part for connecting the heater to the power source. The power connecting part includes the electrode part 135, an electrode hole 122 disposed in the cavity 121, an opening/closing part for opening and closing the electrode hole 122, and a power source part 125 disposed behind the cavity 121.

In detail, the heater section 133 is installed on the cavity 121, and the electrode hole 122 is disposed in the cavity 121 to correspond to the electrode part 135, so that the electrode part 135 can be selectively inserted in the electrode hole 122. When the electrode part 135 is connected to the power source, electric current is prevented from flowing to the cavity 121. To this end, the electrode hole 122 has a greater diameter than that of the electrode part 135.

The opening/closing part is disposed in front of the electrode hole 122 to selectively open and close the electrode hole 122. In more detail, the opening/closing part includes a plurality of closing members 123 for closing the electrode hole 122, and a plurality of elastic members 124 for pressing the closing members 123 in certain directions to close the electrode hole 122. The closing members 123 are disposed at the upper and lower sides of the electrode hole 122, respectively. Ends of the closing members 123, which face each other, are provided with slopes that collide with the electrode part 135 when the heating plate 13 is installed on the cavity 121.

The closing members 123 are disposed on a forming part formed by recessing a portion of the rear surface of the cavity 121 rearward. The closing members 123 can vertically slide along the forming part. One of the elastic members 124 is disposed on the upper portion of the closing member 123 disposed over the electrode hole 122, and presses the closing member 123 downward. The other of the elastic members 124 is disposed on the lower portion of the closing member 123 disposed under the electrode hole 122, and presses the closing member 123 upward. The power source part 125 is fixed to a rear plate 126 disposed behind the cavity 121. The power source part 125 is open forward to receive the electrode part 135. The power source part 125 is connected through a wire to the power source for supplying electricity.

An insulating member 128 is disposed between the rear surface of the cavity 121 and the rear plate 126 to thermally insulate the cavity 121 from the outside of the cooking appliance 1. The insulating member 128 is disposed out of a region overlapping the power source part 125 in the back-and-forth direction. Thus, while the electrode part 135 is coupled to the power source part 125, the insulating member 128 may guide the electrode part 135 to the power source part 125.

A process of connecting the heater 134 to the power source, that is, a process of connecting the electrode part 135 to the power source part 125 will now be described. First, when the heating plate 13 slides rearward to be installed on the cavity 121, the electrode part 135 also moves rearward. When the electrode part 135 contacts the slopes of the closing members 123, interference therebetween moves the closing members 123 upward and downward to open the electrode hole 122. On the contrary, while the heating plate 13 is removed from the cavity 121, the heater 134 is removed from the power source.

Structures for installing the heating plate on the cavity will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the heating plate partitions the cooking compartment according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the heating plate partitions used as a lower heater according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure in which a portion of the cooking compartment functions as a heater using accumulated heat, according to the first embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 6 to 8, a structure for installing the heating plate 13 on the cooking compartment 120 may be varied according to its purpose.

The inner surface of the cavity 121 is provided with forming parts on which the heating plate 13 is installed. A part of forming parts 129 positions the heating plate 13 to partition the cavity 121 into two spaces, and the other part thereof positions the heating plate 13 on the bottom surface of the cavity 121.

When the heating plate 13 is positioned to partition the cavity 121 into two spaces, or is positioned on the bottom surface of the cavity 121, a portion of the rear surface of the cavity 121, which overlaps the electrode part 135 of the heating plate 13 in the back-and-forth direction, is provided with the power source part 125, the electrode hole 122, and the opening/closing part to which the electrode part 135 is connected.

Thus, the heating plate 13 is selectively disposed on at least two positions. When the heating plate 13 is positioned to partition the cavity 121 into two spaces, the heater section 133 and the heat accumulation section 132 of the heating plate 13 are exposed to the two spaces, respectively. That is, one of the two spaces may be directly heated by the heater section 133, and the other thereof may be indirectly heated by the heat accumulation section 132. In more detail, since one of the two spaces, which is heated by the heater section 133, directly receives heat from the heater section 133, temperature increase thereof is large. Since the other of the two spaces, which is heated by the heat accumulation section 132, indirectly receives heat from the heater section 133 after being accumulated in the heat accumulation section 132, temperature increase thereof is small. Thus, food can be quickly heated and cooked in the space exposed directly to the heater section 133, and food can be gradually heated and cooked in the space exposed to the heat accumulation section 132. The gradually heating and cooking of food corresponds to a brick oven cooking method. The brick oven cooking method is at least one of a method of collecting heat from a heating source disposed along the rounded top surface of the cavity 121, and a method of gradually transferring heat to food through the heat accumulation section 132 without directly transferring heat from the heater section 133 to the food. For example, food such as bread is adapted for the brick oven cooking method. If bread is quickly heated, the amount of moisture evaporated from the bread is increased, and the bread may be burned. Thus, bread needs a gradual heating method. Since the heating plate 13 can be installed on the cavity 121, regardless of directions of the heater section 133 and the heat accumulation section 132, any one of the two spaces of the cavity 121 partitioned by the heating plate 13 can be directly heated or indirectly heated. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the heating plate 13 is installed on the cavity 121 to partition the cavity 121 into two spaces. That is, referring to FIG. 6, an indirect-heat cooking process may be performed in the upper one of two spaces separated by the heating plate 13, and a direct-heat cooking process may be performed in the lower one thereof. When the heating plate 13 is upside down, a direct-heat cooking process may be performed in the upper space, and an indirect-heat cooking process may be performed in the lower space.

The heating plate 13 may be disposed on the bottom surface of the cavity 121 as illustrated in FIG. 7. Also in this case, the heating plate 13 can be installed on the cavity 121, regardless of directions of the heater section 133 and the heat accumulation section 132. That is, the heater section 133 may be directed upward, or the heat accumulation section 132 may be directed upward. When the heater section 133 may be directed upward, heat is directly transferred from the heater section 133 to the inner space of the cavity 121, so that food can be quickly heated and cooked in the cavity 121. When the heat accumulation section 132 is directed upward, heat generated from the heater section 133 is accumulated in the heat accumulation section 132, and then, is indirectly transferred to the inner space of the cavity 121 through the heat accumulation section 132, so that food can be gradually heated and cooked in the cavity 121.

When the heating plate 13 is positioned to partition the cavity 121 into two spaces, one or more heating plates 15 may be disposed on one or more side surfaces of one of the two spaces, to thereby more efficiently perform a brick oven cooking process. In this case, the heating plate 13 partitioning the cavity 121 may be referred to as a horizontal plate, and the heating plates 15 may be referred to as vertical plates. In detail, like the horizontal plate 13, the vertical plates 15 may include the heater section 133 and the heat accumulation section 132, which are selectively removed. A hook provided to the vertical plate 15 may hook a rack provided to the inner surface of the cavity 121, to thereby install the vertical plate 15 on the cavity 121. However, a structure for installing the vertical plate 15 on the cavity 121 is not limited thereto. In addition, like the heating plate 13, the vertical plates 15 may be installed on the cavity 121, regardless of directions of the heater section 133 and the heat accumulation section 132.

The horizontal plate 13 and the vertical plates 15 are installed on the cavity 121 as illustrated in FIG. 8. In this case, the horizontal plate 13 and the vertical plates 15 are disposed in the upper one of the two spaces separated by the horizontal plate 13, and the heat accumulation sections 132 are exposed to the upper space. Thus, food accommodated in the upper space can be gradually heated and cooked by the horizontal plate 13 and the vertical plates 15 at the same time. Furthermore, heat emitted from the heating part 14 disposed on the top of the cavity 121 is collected in the food, to thereby improve cooking efficiency. That is, the vertical plates 15 improve efficiency of the brick oven cooking process.

Moreover, when the heat accumulation section 132 is additionally disposed under the heating part 14 to accumulate and emit heat generated from the heating part 14, the food accommodated in the upper space separated by the horizontal plate 13 is heated in all directions through the heat accumulation sections 132, thereby maximizing the efficiency of the brick oven cooking process.

A method of controlling the cooking appliance will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating flow of control signals within the cooking appliance according to the first embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 9, the cooking appliance 1 includes: the input part 161 through which various signals for controlling the cooking appliance 1 are input; an installation sensing part 162 for sensing installation of the horizontal plate 13 and the vertical plates 15; a control part 163 receiving a signal input to the input part 161, and a signal sensed by the installation sensing part 162; a memory part 164 storing various types of information for operating the cooking appliance 1; the output part 165 outputting various signals recognized by a user; and a cooking operation part 166 for cooking food.

In detail, the input part 161 through which various signals for controlling the cooking appliance 1 are input, may be provided with various structures such as a button or a dial. The installation sensing part 162 senses whether at least one of the horizontal plate 13 and the vertical plates 15 is installed on the cavity 121. To this end, the installation sensing part 162 may sense an approach of the horizontal plate 13 and the vertical plates 15, or sense whether power is supplied to the horizontal plate 13 and the vertical plates 15, but is not limited thereto.

The memory part 164 may store various types of information for cooking food, such as a set cooking condition. The output part 165 outputs an audio signal such as a sound and a voice, or a visual signal such as a character and a color, so that a user can perceive various types of information. The cooking operation part 166 substantially cooks food, and may include, for example, a heater, a burner, and a fan.

The cooking appliance 1 may be operated in a brick oven cooking mode. In the brick oven cooking mode, food is cooked in the state where the horizontal plate 13 and the vertical plates 15 are all installed in the cavity 121. When at least one of the horizontal plate 13 and the vertical plates 15 is not installed, a signal for operating the cooking appliance 1 in the brick oven cooking mode may be input.

Thus, when a signal for the brick oven cooking mode is input through the input part 161, the installation sensing part 162 senses whether the horizontal plate 13 and the vertical plates 15 are installed. When the installation sensing part 162 senses that the horizontal plate 13 and the vertical plates 15 are all installed, the control part 163 operates the cooking operation part 166 in a normal mode.

However, when the installation sensing part 162 senses that at least one of the horizontal plate 13 and the vertical plates 15 is not installed, the control part 163 outputs, through the output part 165, a signal denoting that at least one of the horizontal plate 13 and the vertical plates 15 is not installed. Accordingly, a user recognizes that at least one of the horizontal plate 13 and the vertical plates 15 is not installed, and may install the one of the horizontal plate 13 and the vertical plates 15. To normally perform the brick oven cooking mode, the heat accumulation section 132 of the horizontal plate 13 is disposed over the heater section 133. Thus, it may be sensed whether the horizontal plate 13 is installed in a normal position. If the horizontal plate 13 is upside down, it may be notified to a user that the horizontal plate 13 is upside down.

In detail, the power source part 125 connected to the horizontal plate 13 may sense whether the horizontal plate 13 is installed in the normal position. For example, the power source part 125 and the opening/closing part may be provided in duplicate to portions of the rear surface of the cavity 121 corresponding to the horizontal plate 13 installed on the cavity 121. Accordingly, if the horizontal plate 13 is upside down, the electrode part 135 is not connected to a correct one of the power source parts 125 with respect to the normal position, and is connected to a false one of the power source parts 125. That is, it can be sensed whether the horizontal plate 13 is installed in the normal position by identifying the power source part 125 connected to the electrode part 135. However, a method of sensing whether the horizontal plate 13 is installed in the normal position is not limited thereto.

When it is sensed that the horizontal plate 13 is installed in the normal position, the control part 163 controls the cooking operation part 166 to perform the brick oven cooking mode.

However, unless the horizontal plate 13 is installed in the normal position, the control part 163 controls the output part 165 to output an alarm signal denoting that the horizontal plate 13 is incorrectly installed. Thus, a user perceiving the alarm signal output by the output part 165 may take an action for installing the horizontal plate 13 in the normal position.

When the brick oven cooking mode is performed, the horizontal plate 13 is disposed in a position for partitioning the cavity 121. However, when the horizontal plate 13 is installed on the bottom surface of the cavity 121, a signal for performing the brick oven cooking mode may be input. Also in this case, the above-described method may be used to notify a user that the horizontal plate 13 is incorrectly installed.

A cooking appliance according to a second embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The current embodiment is different from the first embodiment in a power connecting part and a coupling structure of a heater section and a heat accumulation section.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a removal of a heating plate of a cooking appliance according to the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a heater section removed from a power source according to the second embodiment. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the heater section of FIG. 11 is connected to the power source.

Referring to FIGS. 10 to 12, a heater section 233 of a heating plate 23 is provided with rail parts 236 to receive a heat accumulation section 232. In detail, the rail parts 236 extend in an L shape from both ends of the heater section 233. The distance between the rail parts 236 provided to both the ends of the heater section 233 corresponds to the width of the heat accumulation section 232. Thus, the heat accumulation section 232 may be inserted between the rail parts 236. Since the rail parts 236 are elongated in a certain direction along both the ends of the heater section 233, a first end of the heat accumulation section 232 received in second ends of the rail parts 236 slides until arriving at first ends of the rail parts 236, to thereby couple the heat accumulation section 232 to the heater section 233.

A power connecting part for connecting the heater section 233 to a power source includes an electrode hole 222 disposed in the rear portion of a cavity 221, and a closing member 123 selectively closing the electrode hole 222. In detail, when the heater section 233 is installed on the cavity 221, the electrode hole 222 is disposed in a region of the rear portion of the cavity 221 to correspond to an electrode part 235 of the heater section 233. When the heater section 233 is connected to the power source, electric current is prevented from flowing to the cavity 221. To this end, the electrode hole 222 has a greater diameter than that of the electrode part 235.

The closing member 223 vertically moves at the electrode hole 222 to open and close the electrode hole 222. A support is disposed under the closing member 223 to support the closing member 223 when the closing member 223 closes the electrode hole 222. A portion defining the lower end of the electrode hole 222 is recessed forward to form the support.

The electrode part 235 is coupled to a power source part 225 by moving the closing member 223 upward, that is, opening the electrode hole 222, then, moving the heating plate 23 rearward to install the heating plate 23 on the cavity 221.

A cooking appliance according to a third embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The current embodiment is different from the first embodiment in a power connecting part. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a heater section disconnected from a power source according to the third embodiment. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the heater section of FIG. 13 is connected to the power source.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, a power connecting part includes a closing member 323 rotatably installed on the rear portion of a cavity 321. In detail, a heater section 333 is installed on the cavity 321, and an electrode hole 322 is disposed in a region of the rear portion of the cavity 121 to correspond to an electrode part 335. When the heater section 333 is connected to a power source, electric current is prevented from flowing to the cavity 321. To this end, the electrode hole 322 has a greater diameter than that of the electrode part 335.

The closing member 323 rotates rearward from the rear portion of the cavity 321 to selectively close the electrode hole 322. An elastic member is disposed at an end of the closing member 323 to press the closing member 323, so that the closing member 323 can continually close the electrode hole 322.

While the heater section 333 moves rearward, and is installed on the cavity 321, the electrode part 335 pushes the closing member 323 rearward to open the electrode hole 322, to thereby couple the electrode part 335 to a power source part.

According to the above-described embodiments, food can be more intensively heated in the cooking compartment, thus improving the cooking efficiency.

Heat generated from the heater is accumulated in the heat accumulation section, and then, is transferred to food. Accordingly, food can be heated with accumulated heat, that is, be gradually heated.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cooking appliance comprising: a cavity having a top surface rounded to be convex upward; and a heater spaced a constant distance from the top surface of the cavity.
 2. The cooking appliance according to claim 1, further comprising a reflective part disposed at an upper side of the heater and reflecting heat from the heater into the cavity.
 3. The cooking appliance according to claim 2, wherein the reflective part is spaced a constant distance from the top surface of the cavity.
 4. The cooking appliance according to claim 1, further comprising a heat-resistant glass disposed under the heater and formed of a transparent or translucent material.
 5. The cooking appliance according to claim 1, wherein the heater comprises a burner including a flame hole for discharging fuel gas to be burned.
 6. The cooking appliance according to claim 5, wherein the flame hole is in a horizontal position, or is in a tangential position to the top surface of the cavity.
 7. The cooking appliance according to claim 5, wherein the flame hole for discharging fuel gas is disposed at an uppermost point in the cavity.
 8. A cooking appliance comprising: a cavity having a top surface rounded to be convex upward; and a heater installed on the cavity, and emitting heat into the cavity, wherein the heater includes one or more heater units that are selectively assembled to vary the number of the heater units.
 9. The cooking appliance according to claim 8, further comprising one or more heating plate units that are selectively installed in the cavity to vary the number of the heating plate units, wherein the heating plate unit includes: a heater section including the heater unit; a heat accumulation section for accumulating and emitting heat generated from the heater unit.
 10. The cooking appliance according to claim 9, wherein the heating plate unit comprises a connecting part for connecting the heater unit to a power source.
 11. The cooking appliance according to claim 10, wherein, when a first unit and a second unit of the heating plate units are coupled to each other, a connecting part of the first unit is connected to a connecting part of the second unit. 